Nigeria: Retired Military officers disassociate self from alleged plan to protest over pension

July 11 (Kaduna) Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Officers Association of Nigeria, RANAO has disassociated itself from alleged plans by some group of persons to hide under it name to protest against the government over the issue of their pension.

Social and Welfare Secretary of the association, Retired Wing Commander Nuhu Dangogo Gambo disclosed this to Oslo Times in Kaduna State.

According to him, the alleged group of persons have no course to embark on such strike or protest because the issue of their retirement pensions have been taking care of by the Army pension board.

He explained that the board pay their pension as at when due and currently working on the harmonization of pension to conform with the law, adding that the quarterly payment of their 33 percent pension arrears have also been worked on as he appealed to any group who have any grievances to follow the due process of law.

The retired Airforce officer said leaders of the association have met with the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Mohammed DanAli and they are happy with the way and manner the Minister received the members who were in his office over the issue.

He explained that the Minister of Defence had also constituted a committee for the amendment of the legion act, adding that the draft of the act is expected any moment from now. Retired Wing Commander Gambo said the association remain grateful to the and authority for the prompt payment of their pension and pledged their support and loyalty to the Federal government of Nigeria.

According to him, "Let me clear some issues and doubts by some of our officers not engage in provocating government that may not help the associations case. Government is looking into our issues, so we have no course to embark on any strike or protest.

"We are getting our quarterly payment of pension arrears, it will last to December, 2017. We have gotten that of 2015. Secondly, the most important thing for us is harmonization. The government is looking into it with a view to implantation because Mr. President has sent copies to even the Defence headquarters. They had convened a meeting in respect to that and waiting for report to give to Mr. President for implementation.

"Thirdly, the government in future has agreed to implement the 5years increase of pension as written in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A committee has been convened by the Minister of Defence to look into the amendment of the legion act. They sat and we are waiting for the draft. So the government is looking into our issues," he stated. END